Electric distributor ring for rotary knitting machines



Oct. 16, 1945. M. WACHSM AN 2,387,100

ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTOR RiNG FOR ROTARY KNITTING'MACHINES 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed March 2'7, 1944 .EIL] .1

I "M, I

Patented Oct. 16, 1945 t j t UNlTED STATE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTOR RING FOR BOTARYKNITTING MACHINES Michael Wachsman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 27, 1944, Serial No. 528,223

3 Claims. (01. 66163) This invention relates to improvements in electrip distributor rings for rotary knitting machines of the types shown in my U. 8. Patents No. 2,309,367, January 25, 1943, and No. 2,324,442, July l3, 1943. The electric distributor ring is composed of two ring portions. One portion is sta:

tiori aryand receives electric current. The other pbrtion rotates upon the first portion so as to take the current therefrom and distribute it to electrically actuated elements with which the knitting machine may be equipped.

. Kf1i tting.machines-are usually equipped with so'calledyarn end detectors and yarn knot detector s'. j' These detectors are electric normally openf'switcheswhich are under the control of the travelling yarn. When the yarn runs out, breaks or a knot occurs therein, so that the yarn cannot pass'through the detecting devices, the latter are'automatically operated to close an electriccircuit and the knitting machine stops running.

jglnasm'uch asit is of the utmostdmportance that there be an uninterrupted supply of electric" current to the detectors and other electrically-operated devices, the greatest care and skill in constructing and operating the distributor ring "necessary. 1 In particular, it is necessary to provide aring so arranged that, on the one hand, sii'iootli and swift rotation of the rotary ring part is assured. On the other hand, it is absolutely essential that, provision is made whereby dustfdirt', 'parafiln, and the like, which normally result'fromthel'operationbf a knitting machine,

belprevented from entering the distributor ring and;cause'interruptioninthe electric circuit.

Qne' object' of the invention'is therefore to provide 'an electric distributor ring of a. novel and improved construction including a "plurality of contacting surfaces to insure a continuous elec trio circuit from the one ring portion to the other. Another object is to provide novel means for supporting thei'ringso'that it may be easily and conveniently mounted on the knitting machinj Still another object is to provide means for maintaining the stationary part of the ring in' stationary operative position and at thesame time pro vide good electriccontact between such maintaining means and the ring including an arrangementvwhereby the ring asa whole is free to follow, the vibrations andswaying motionsof. the

parts of the knitting machine to which it is attached. Otherobjects will appear asthis specification, proceeds. ,In the accompanying ,draw

a rotary knitting machine with the inventionap Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the ringon the line 4. on Fig. 2..

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the View Fig, 4.

Fig. 6 shows another modification.

Fig, 7 is a sectional view of the ring on the line 'I-'! on Fig. 2. Fig. 8 shows a modification from the view'in Fig.3.

Fig. 9 shows a modified construction of adistributorring applied directly to the rotating shaft of the machine. r i

Referring first to Fig. 1 the numeral II] denotes a central uprightshaft which supports the yarncontrolling devices. The shaft is attached to the central vertical rotating shaft of the k njit- Patent 2,039,133, April 28, 1936. Above the bobbins. the shaft I0 supports yarn end detectors I3 which may be of the type shown in the U. S. Patent 1,784,560, December 9, 1930. Near the top the shaft supports yarn knot detectors I4 which may be of thetype shown in the U. S.

Patent (reissue) 19,069, February 6, 1934. The

detector devices as such form no part .of this in vention.

The electric distributor ring comprises a sta tionary ring I5 and a rotating ring I6. Thelatter is suspended from the arms in the bobbin table by upright hanger brackets I'I. Electric current is supplied to the stationary ring l5 from one or more feeder posts I8 which are fastened to any convenient fixed part of the knitting machine. For example, some machines have fixed posts I9 which may be used forthis purpose.

, Belowthe distributor ring the shaft I0 carries I rotating slack take-up devices, each of which con-l sists of a relatively rigid arm 20 and a slack take: up spring arm 2|. I2 pass upwards through the detector devices l3 and I4, thence downward througha guide plate, 0 t erslfl. 2 ,From hela eath The yarns from the bobbins tically indestructible and accomplishes the object sought in a most efficient manner.

I claim:

1. An electric distributor ring for a rotary knitting machine consisting of two electric conducting rings, one of which rotates upon the other ring in close contacting electric current conducting relation therewith, a hanger bracket on said rotating ring for attaching the same to the knitting machine to rotate therewith, a finger piece supported on said bracket and overlapping the stationary ring to prevent separation of the said two rings and means on said hanger bracket for maintaining said finger piece in the said over lapping relation to the stationary ring.

2. An electric distributor ring for a rotary Imitting machine having detachable bobbin supporting arms, a hanger bracket on said distributor ring having an'aperture to receive one of said arms for attaching the ring thereto and means for securing the hanger bracket to the said arm.

3. An electric distributor ring for a rotary knitting machine consisting of two electric conducting rings, one of which rotates upon the other in current conducting relation, means for attaching the rotating ring to the knitting machine to totate therewith, a feeder post, means for supplying electric current to said post, a lug on said stationary ring adapted to engage said feeder post in the direction of rotation of said rotating ring to receive electric current from the post, said post being spaced from said distributor ring to permit the latter to move vertically with respect to said post without interrupting the contacting relation between the post and the lug on the sta tionary ring.

MICHAEL WACHSMAN. 

